Old Figure of Speech

[jdfatl]

I have 2 friends who recall their Canadian & Scottish, respectively, ancestors who used to refer to their son's (coincidence) jobs well done by saying, "Well done, [phonetic] 'pon-sun-be.'" Or, "ponce-un-be" or "pond-son-be."

Does anyone know the phrase, its meaning, and its roots.
jdfatl.

[Quizmonster]

Are you sure it isn't just the surname, Ponsonby? I suspect it works along the same lines as people might, if surprised at what someone had suggested, use the words, "I say, Carruthers!" or some such response.

[jno]

sounds like Ponsonby: Queen Victoria's private secretary was Sir Henry Ponsonby and you can imagine her saying that to him after he'd just superglued one of the diamonds back into her crown or similar. It may just be one of those mythical sayings attributed to her like 'We are not amused'. (I'm guessing, though; it might be a completely different Ponsonby, or an imaginary one.)